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Tag Archives: World War Two
Hand Sewing, 1942
In honor of Black History Month, I’m seeking out photos of older black women. This beautiful portrait of a woman doing hand sewing has been on my radar for a long time. It is one of a series of photos … Continue reading
The Jumpsuit—A Style that Will Not Die
You might have noticed that the jump suit, a one piece long armed garment with pants, is back in style. An older fashion blogger I follow, Alyson Walsh, has declared it her favorite look. Sewing patterns for jumpsuits abound. I … Continue reading
Claire McCardell’s Pop-Over in the Montgomery Ward Catalog
If any designer came to embody a streamlined, no fuss “American look” during World War Two, it was Claire McCardell. She was famous for her innovative designs and inventive use of humble fabrics like gingham and denim. One of her … Continue reading
Kitchen Aprons in the War Effort
In my ongoing effort to show that not all female war workers during World War Two were young, I bring you these two photos from the Office of War Information. The top photo shows two women sorting artillery shells in … Continue reading
More War Workers in Pants
My brother is engaged in a long research project on our father’s career as a navigator during the Second World War. As a lucky spin off for me, he has been sending photos of women workers he comes across, including … Continue reading
Older Rosies and the Push Toward Pants
Although it is hard to tell from this photo, the caption by Office of War Information photographer Alfred T. Palmer makes clear that this particular Rosie the Riveter is an older woman. “A woman worker, over 60 years old, does … Continue reading
Older Women in Pants, Bonner Montana
This photo comes from the University of Montana, via the Digital Public Library of America. Note that all the women, from young to old, are in pants. We know a lot about the snapshot, including the location (Bonner, Montana), the … Continue reading
Employee Christmas Party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 1945
At a local fancy flea market, the Long Beach Antique Market, I found this photo of an employee party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The image is much too large for my scanner—18 inches by 9 inches—so I can only … Continue reading
Marjory Collins—Chronicling the Lives of Older Women
During the Second World War, Marjory Collins (1912-1985) was hired by the Office of War Information to provide a photographic record of American life on the home front. Most of her photos fit a standard mold—parades, church scenes, factories. But … Continue reading
Sally Holt in Pants, 1940s
In response to my call for more information about older women in pants, my cyber friend Witness2Fashion sent me these photos from her aunt’s amazing collection. They feature Sally B. Holt of Pulaski Tennessee, a woman apparently in her forties, … Continue reading